Sammers Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Evening! I've seen a '72 P (lefty) up for sale and managed to get a few pictures off the seller. As this'll possibly be my first older bass purchase, i'm wondering if there's anything that's stands out as odd to any of you guys. I'm not really that clued up on older basses other than what I've managed to dig up on t'internet but what I've found is as below (it's being sold as all original);[list] [*]No skunk stripe (only on maple necks I believe?) [*]F Plate on the neck [*]Trust rod adjustment at the heel of the neck [*]Thumb rest below the G string (as opposed to above the E) [*]Gold outline on the Fender logo [*]Neck plate is 3XXXXX which seems correct for the period [/list] I'm trying to get pictures sent to me of the pot numbers / neck stamp at the heel but none as yet. Pics below; Some more in my Flickr album (let me know if this links borked for whatever reason!) [url="https://www.flickr.com/photos/60209713@N08/sets/72157648661455597/"]https://www.flickr.c...57648661455597/[/url] Any help and advice is greatly appreciated as no doubt I've missed something! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 From those pics it looks good and period correct. I'm pretty certain that back then Fender were still cutting up the regular headstock decals and using the 'Fender' part for lefties. Always good to get pics of the neck, pocket, pickup and pots etc when buying vintage. Given the condition of that one, I reckon it could all be good under the hood, but do check! Looks lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammers Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 Sound advice, I'll definitely follow up with the seller! Very much appreciated, thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 It looks like the real thing, but serial numbers on neck plates can be faked. You need to get the neck off to find what's on the neck heel and pocket. Plus get pics of the pup and pots. The pots will have codes on that you can date the bass from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxm Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Looks legit so far, similar nuances to my 70's lefties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisanthony1211 Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 (edited) Check out the link below regarding the correct period decal, make sure you get noses photos of the pots and pickups to be sure http://www.guitarchina.com/news/bg/bg04/20041102/050117.htm Edited November 2, 2014 by chrisanthony1211 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammers Posted November 2, 2014 Author Share Posted November 2, 2014 Thanks guys! I did check that website Chris, seems very similar to me. I've shot the seller an email asking for electronics/pot/neck pocket and date stamp photos so hopefully they'll come within the week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Seems legit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Make sure you play it before committing. I played a '77 P recently that looked amazing but sounded........ ok. Wasn't worth the very hefty price tag as an instrument to be played, but maybe as an object to hold on to and hope it increases in value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 [quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1414949931' post='2594971'] Make sure you play it before committing. I played a '77 P recently that looked amazing but sounded........ ok. Wasn't worth the very hefty price tag as an instrument to be played, but maybe as an object to hold on to and hope it increases in value. [/quote] Of course this advice applies to any bass, regardless of when it was made... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1414950031' post='2594973'] Of course this advice applies to any bass, regardless of when it was made... [/quote] Absolutely! I just hate the assumption that all Fenders 25 years old or more will sound amazing, make women want to be with you and men want to be you every time you pluck a string. Some of them just were just so-so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Surely the commonest reason for a really good condition old bass. Looks great, sounds...meh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisanthony1211 Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 (edited) One of the things I like about vintage fenders is that once you've bought it, it will go up in value not down! And of course it will sound amazing, make women want to be with you and men want to be you every time you pluck a string! Edited November 2, 2014 by chrisanthony1211 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 With uk_lefty on the whole 'looks good, plays...meh', try before you buy thing - I had a 78 Jazz a while ago which was in great condition, all original, all good, but sounded...brown. And not in a good way Oh, and it weighed nearly twelve pounds... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammers Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 I'll definitely be trying before buying, no doubt about it. I just didn't want to travel down to London to find out it's not what it was listed as due to my lack of knowledge etc. More pics will be on the way to me within the next few hours, hopefully it'll play as good as it looks and is the real deal. Thanks to everyone who chipped in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notable9 Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 (edited) Looks more or less spot on, very pretty. To check the body take the cover off, bridge will be fitted to far back with extra long G string adjuster. I think they fixed this in about 73/74 Neck looks good but as others have said you need to take it off to be sure and dont worry if there are no markings I've seen several which are bare including my own 71 which is a real thumper! Edited November 6, 2014 by notable9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 [quote name='notable9' timestamp='1415276071' post='2598646'] Looks more or less spot on, very pretty. To check the body take the cover off, bridge will be fitted to far back with extra long G string adjuster. I think they fixed this in about 73/74 Neck looks good but as others have said you need to take it off to be sure and dont worry if there are no markings I've seen several which are bare including my own 71 which is a real thumper! [/quote] I agree - it looks kosher - i have a 1969/70ish P bass and the sunburst is exactly the same as this one - i mean [i]exactly[/i] the same, as in the same person could have done it! Mine also has the long G string screw on the bridge, but i don't know exactly when that was phased out. My neck pocket markings are there, but are unclear and not really very conclusive in themselves, but you may have more joy. But as other people have pointed out, check the various component codes to be 100 per cent sure. Good luck either way - if its genuine and you like it, then you've got yourself a great bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 (edited) I bought one of those new in 1972 and it cost me £220. A right handed one would have cost £200 but Fender charged 10% extra for left handed. How's that for unless information. Edited November 6, 2014 by bertbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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